The new bill authored by State Rep. Joy L. Goeben in the Wisconsin Assembly aims to repeal existing protections for law enforcement officers and extend rights to all state and municipal arresting officers, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.
According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “the law enforcement officers’ bill of rights”.
The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill repeals Section 164.05 of the statutes, which contains the law enforcement officers’ bill of rights. The existing bill of rights provides protections for certain law enforcement officers regarding political activity, interrogation procedures, candidacy for public office, and employment discrimination related to exercising these rights. These protections currently apply only to officers employed by a city, village, town, or county. With the repeal, the bill extends these rights to include all individuals employed by the state or municipalities who have the authority to make arrests and enforce laws or ordinances.
The bill was co-authored by Senator Jesse L. James (Republican-23rd District), Representative David Armstrong (Republican-67th District), Representative Elijah R. Behnke (Republican-6th District), Representative Lindee Rae Brill (Republican-27th District), Representative Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District). It was co-sponsored by Senator Rachael Cabral-Guevara (Republican-19th District), Senator André Jacque (Republican-1st District), and Senator Howard L. Marklein (Republican-17th District), along seven other co-sponsors.
Joy L. Goeben has co-authored or authored another 63 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with none of them being enacted.
Goeben graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1997 with a BS.
Goeben, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2023 to represent the state’s 5th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Jim Steineke.
In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| AB229 | 05/02/2025 | The law enforcement officers’ bill of rights |
| AB191 | 04/15/2025 | Requiring a subpoena to a law enforcement officer or tribal law enforcement officer served in official capacity to be served at the officer’s work address |
| AB152 | 04/02/2025 | Bid requirement for publication and printing of county board proceedings, notices, and advertisements in counties having a population of 250,000 or more and at least two English newspapers published daily |
| AB138 | 03/17/2025 | Jailers and protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE) |
| AB124 | 03/11/2025 | Prohibiting persons who have been convicted of a violent crime from changing their name and providing a penalty |
| AB123 | 03/11/2025 | Calculation of miles for purposes of relocation of a child 100 miles or more from the other parent in an action affecting the family |
| AB105 | 03/10/2025 | The distribution of certain material on the Internet |
| AB56 | 02/24/2025 | Requiring the display of the national motto in public schools and on public buildings. (FE) |
| AB53 | 02/24/2025 | Special circumstances battery to a community service officer and providing a penalty |
| AB40 | 02/17/2025 | School safety grants and making an appropriation. (FE) |
| AB11 | 02/06/2025 | Pelvic exams on unconscious patients and creating an administrative rule related to hospital requirements for pelvic exams on unconscious patients |
